Microsoft announces new Dynamics CRM integrations to Cortana, customer engagement platform Thunderhead.com

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015 will be available in December 2014, the company announced today. In addition to the previously announced improvements to core CRM functions, Dynamics Marketing, and Social Listening, the company will be augmenting the product with integration to Cortana for Windows Phone 8.1 and a planned integration to the Thunderhead.com customer engagement platform.

Dynamics CRM 2015 will include advancements in natural user interface and integration with Cortana, the intelligent personal assistant on Windows Phone 8.1, the company announced.  With Cortana, users will be able to set up meetings and reminders, search for contacts, accounts and activities,  view customer lists and create new customer records  - all with voice commands.

Here's a quick demo video Microsoft has posted showing off Cortana and Dynamics CRM, along with other voice-activated mobile capabilities.

Microsoft also has a new partnership with the customer engagement platform company Thunderhead.com. The companies will build a new integrated "omni-channel customer engagement solution" based on interoperability between the Dynamics CRM platform and Thunderhead.com's ONE Engagement Hub.

Thunderhead.com's solutions specialize in to improving customer engagement by tying together customer insight, context and journey behavior and enhancing customer experiences across touch points. You can watch their introductory "What we do" video here.

Founded in 2004, the company has received analyst accolades like Paul Greenberg's 2014 CRM Watchlist Award. The company specializes in nine industry sectors, including insurance, telecomm, public sector, wealth management, retail banking, shipping, ...